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“Ouch, my eyes! They’re almost blinded,” an official said, rubbing his eyes.
They had never seen so much silver before.
“So… so much silver!” Jasper Zuo, the Minister of Revenue, exclaimed, his eyes sparkling as if stars were twinkling in them.
With this much silver, the treasury’s tight situation could be completely resolved.
Finally, his rapidly thinning hair might stop falling out so quickly.
Quentin Fu, the Left Minister, tugged out three strands of his beard upon seeing the silver.
Even he, the highest-ranking minister in Great Wei, had never seen so much money.
Empress Hazel Han’s beautiful eyes flashed with a strange light when she saw the silver.
She hadn’t expected Oliver Sheng to send so much silver to her.
“Your Majesty, our Ministry of War has a batch of military equipment that needs funds for repairs,” Gavin Wang, the Minister of War, was the first to speak.
“Rubbish! What does your Ministry of War need to repair? Your Majesty, our Ministry of Works urgently needs funds for water conservancy projects,” the Minister of Works retorted.
Seeing so much money, they naturally started to argue; otherwise, there would be none left.
“Your Majesty, all this money should go into the national treasury. The treasury is almost empty,” Jasper Zuo glared angrily at the others.
These old fools, they actually wanted to snatch the money from him?
No way!
All the money belonged to the treasury and should be managed by the Ministry of Revenue!
“Zuo, you’re the one talking rubbish. If the water conservancy projects are delayed and the spring plowing is affected next year, will you take responsibility?” the Minister of Works retorted without backing down.
Empress Hazel Han massaged her forehead with her delicate hand. The money had just arrived, and the ministers were already quarreling.
“Your Majesty, my general said that this silver is the tax revenue from the auction of the shops in River West City. It is all handed over to Your Majesty. The silver has been delivered, please accept it,” Deng Wei said.
He was merely responsible for escorting the silver. Now that it had been delivered to the gates of the imperial city, his task was complete.
“Alright, I will accept this silver. Thank you for your hard work, soldiers. I have seen Oliver’s sincerity,” Empress Hazel Han said with relief.
“Guards, escort this silver to the treasury,” the Empress ordered the imperial guards to escort the silver to the treasury.
How to use this money would also need to be coordinated.
“Your Majesty, we take our leave to report back,” Deng Wei cupped his fists and said to the Empress.
“Alright, General, please convey my regards to Oliver,” the Empress smiled and nodded.
Deng Wei led the heavy cavalry back to River West.
“With such a strong army, the Northern Frontier is secure!” Quentin Fu said with satisfaction.
“Indeed, the soldiers under Shengwu King’s command are truly elite.”
“In a few years, they might even catch up to the Demon Suppression Army.”
The Demon Suppression Army was the truly strongest army in Great Wei.
That army had been fighting the demon clans at the Demon Suppression Pass.
……
In October, the first snow of the Northern Frontier began to fall in the cold wind.
The dancing snowflakes were pure white.
Overnight, the Northern Frontier became a world of ice and snow.
Another winter had arrived. This was Oliver Sheng’s second winter in this world.
River West City!
A shop quietly launched a new wool coat.
“Don’t miss it, don’t miss it! Warm and comfortable wool coats to keep you warm all winter,” a shop assistant shouted.
“Hey, interesting! I’ve never seen this kind of shouting before.”
“Wool coats? Wool can be made into coats?”
“Let’s go take a look. It’s really cold out.”
Attracted by the shouting, many people gathered.
“Shopkeeper, is this the wool coat you’re talking about?” A well-to-do middle-aged man pointed at the black coats hanging on the wall.
“Yes, this is our newly developed coat. It’s very warm, even if you walk in the snow, you won’t feel cold,” the shopkeeper said with a smile.
“Really?”
River West City was also covered in snow, and the cold weather made people shiver on the streets.
“If you don’t believe me, you can try one on,” the shopkeeper suggested.
“Alright, find me one that fits.”
Soon, those who had come to watch the commotion put on the wool coats and really didn’t feel cold anymore.
“This coat is amazing, it’s really not cold.”
“So warm! How much for this coat? I want to buy one.”
Soon, wool coats became popular in River West City. They were warm and affordable, worth buying.
Many merchants saw a business opportunity and inquired about potential cooperation and bulk purchases.
A clothing workshop outside River West City also began working overtime to produce more coats.
Of course, this was Oliver Sheng’s business. With so many sheep and captives, the wool had to be put to good use.
Producing and selling wool coats was another lucrative venture.
Oliver Sheng was sprinting down the path of building a strong army and making money.
In Oliver Sheng’s mansion, everyone was gathered around eating hotpot.
“General, this hotpot is delicious,” Sawyer Shangguan said, enjoying the lamb.
“Indeed, this way of eating makes the lamb tender and tasty without any gamey smell,” Lin Tian said, devouring his food.
“Your Highness, is this the black stone you had people find? How can this stone burn?” Finn Chen, the governor, was more interested in the coal burning in the stove than the food.
“I told you, it’s not called a black stone, it’s called coal. After processing, it can burn and burn for a long time,” Oliver Sheng said, dipping a piece of lamb tripe into the hotpot for exactly seven seconds, just right.
The lamb tripe melted in his mouth, finally giving him a taste of something familiar.
“Come on, everyone, let’s have a drink,” Oliver Sheng raised his cup, and everyone followed suit, raising their cups and drinking heartily.
“Ah, this is the life! In the middle of winter, sitting around a stove, eating this lamb and beef hotpot, it’s pure enjoyment,” Ian Zhang said, relishing the moment.
In this snowy weather, sitting around a stove and eating hotpot was truly wonderful. They couldn’t understand how Oliver Sheng had come up with this way of eating.
“It’s delicious, but the slices are so thin, it’s not satisfying,” Chi Tiansheng complained.
“You glutton, don’t you know how to enjoy it?” Oliver Sheng laughed and scolded.
“Your Highness, can this coal be promoted to the common people?” Finn Chen asked.
In the many states of the Northern Frontier, the common people suffered in winter. It was cold!
They huddled in their homes, and firewood was expensive and didn’t last long.
If this stove and coal could be promoted in the Northern Frontier, people wouldn’t freeze to death in winter.
“Of course, why not? Have the blacksmiths make molds for the stoves, and they can be produced. My soldiers have also found a coal mine. We can use some slaves and captives to mine it,” Oliver Sheng said.
As a time traveler, finding coal mines, making stoves, and mining coal for sale was a highly profitable business. How could he forget this money-making industry?
“Great, I’ll start promoting it immediately,” Finn Chen said, feeling the warmth from the stove. Sitting by the stove, his face was rosy.
These days, besides cultivating, Oliver Sheng had been busy with these matters.
Last year, he didn’t have the time or energy, but now he had plenty of time. He had his men find coal, make briquettes, and set up wool coat workshops.
“Alright, take my military order and go to the coal stove workshop outside the city. Someone will cooperate with you,” Oliver Sheng nodded.
“How’s the construction of the straight road going?”
“In another month, it will reach Zhangye and join the construction team there,” Finn Chen replied.
With tens of thousands of captives, construction progressed quickly. With strong manpower and financial support, it couldn’t go slowly even if they wanted to.
“What about Xiaoyao Tower? When will it open?” Oliver Sheng asked.
Hearing about Xiaoyao Tower, Xiao Chuyi frowned. She couldn’t understand why Oliver Sheng, a martial king, would open a brothel.
Finn Chen was also helpless. He knew the nature of Xiaoyao Tower, but he couldn’t stop it.
After all, Oliver Sheng was a martial king and the governor of four states.
“It’s all arranged. It will open soon.”
“Don’t be so reluctant. It’s under the name of a trading company. If we don’t do it, someone else will. It’s a gold mine. As long as we manage it well and avoid forcing good people into prostitution, we can provide jobs for those women,” Oliver Sheng said.
Xiaoyao Tower was set up as a comprehensive entertainment building with music, dance, hotpot, massages, and foot baths.
Even the imperial court in Luo Capital had an official entertainment bureau. Why couldn’t River West City have a Xiaoyao Tower?
“Besides, the money we earn will support the army and improve people’s lives. You can’t reject that, Lord Chen,” Oliver Sheng said.
“Alas, my reputation is doomed,” Finn Chen sighed.
“What about the caravans heading to the Western Regions? Are they increasing?” Oliver Sheng asked while eating.
“Yes, they are increasing steadily.”
As time passed, more and more caravans were heading to the Western Regions with goods.
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